Newsnight editor 'steps aside' over alleged Conservative sympathies.

Newsnight editor Peter Rippon has resigned over allegations that he pulled the plug on a report which exposed Conservative sympathies, which have been covertly rampant among the BBC's employees since the 1970's.

An ITV documentary to be aired on Wednesday evening alleges that BBC top brass engineered a large scale cover up, and that illicit Conservatism remains rife in the organisation.

Rumours began to circulate after it was alleged that the former newsreaders Kenneth Kendall and Richard Baker attempted to lure a young student journalist into a protracted conversation about the perceived benefits of privatisation and fiscal policy during a late night session covering the 1979 Clitheroe by-election.

The boy narrowly escaped with his left wing liberal views intact, but remained psychologically scarred for many years.

The documentary's producer, Matthew Ross said "Once we started to investigate it was amazing how many victims came forward. We've heard allegations that Blue Peter presenter, John Noakes attempted to convince a group of boy scouts that tax cuts would benefit the long term economic situation; that Raymond Baxter tried on several occasions to get a young office girl to accept that Britain would be better off outside the common market; and even that Leslie Grantham wanted an early Eastenders plotline to include Dirty Den impregnating an impressionable young Ian Beale with subliminal references to the evils of Arthur Scargill".

The BBC's Director General, George Entwistle, responded to these new revelations with dismay. "This is shocking. The BBC has long prided itself on its left leaning bias. To learn now that we've been harbouring these disgusting, right wing individuals is totally unacceptable. Thatchophiles will not be tolerated at the BBC".

However, there is a legal challenge under way by one former BBC employee, attempting to have the documentary banned before it's even broadcast.

The former Radio 1 DJ, who can't be named for legal reasons, has stated that he has proof that his alleged involvement in a dressing room incident involving 3 members of Pan's People, a box of blue rosettes and a recording of Enoch Powell's 'Rivers of Blood' speech is entirely unfounded, as his diary entry for that day confirms he was out the back of the Top of The Pops studio sucking off Little Jimmy Osmond at the time.

Tweaked to improve topicality, although presumably, not it's comment worthiness.